Brits Off-Broadway News

59E59 Theaters will host the US premiere of CITY STORIES: Tales of Love and Magic in London, written and directed by James Phillips, with original music composed and performed by Rosabella Gregory, at the 2016 Brits Off Broadway festival.

59E59 Theaters will host BUTTERFLY, Ramesh Meyyappan's striking adaptation of Madame Butterfly, at Brits Off Broadway. Written and directed by Mr. Meyyappan, with puppets by Gavin Glover, BUTTERFLY begins performances on Saturday, April 23 for a limited engagement through Saturday, May 14.  Press opening is Friday, April 29 at 8:30 PM.  The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:30 PM; Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 2:30 PM & 8:30 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $25 ($17.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org. 

Due to the glut of openings prior to the Tony Award eligibility deadline, TOAST is shifting its press opening to Sunday, May 1 at 3:00 PM.

Actress Scarlett Alice Johnson steps into the lead role in Philip Ridley's show-stopping satirical comedy RADIANT VERMIN. Actress Gemma Whelan regretfully withdrew from the production owing to a family illness.

Written by Told by an Idiot, music by Iain Johnstone, lyrics by Simon Armitage, directed by Paul Hunter, designed by Laura Hopkins, sound by Adrienne Quartly and lighting by Paul Anderson. I Am Thomas, opens at Wilton's Music Hall on the 20th April and runs til the 30th April. Press night 21st April, 7.30pm.

Malcolm Sinclair (Capt. Andy Hawks) and Chris Peluso (Gaylord Ravenal) will join original Sheffield cast members Gina Beck (Magnolia Hawks), Lucy Briers (Parthy Ann Hawks), Rebecca Trehearn (Julia La Verne), Emmanuel Kojo(Joe), Sandra Marvin (Queenie), Alex Young (Ellie May Chipley) and Danny Collins (Frank Schultz) in the West End cast of Daniel Evans' five star production of Show Boat.

Rehearsals start this week for Opening Skinner's Box, a new production adapted by Improbable and marking 20 years since the company's inception. Directed by Phelim McDermott and Lee Simpson, co-founders of Improbable, this production will play at Northern Stage, West Yorkshire Playhouse and the Bristol Old Vic. Previewing from 22 April at Northern Stage.

Ross & Rachel by James Fritz will launch a UK Tour from June-July 2016. London run: 21st June - 25th June, Battersea Art Centre. 

59E59 Theaters will host the US premiere of TOAST, written by Richard Bean and directed by Eleanor Rhode. Produced by Snapdragon Productions, in association with Jagged Fence Theatre for the 2016 Brits Off Broadway festival, TOAST begins performances on Wednesday, April 20 for a limited engagement through Sunday, May 22.  Press opening is Wednesday, April 27 at 7 PM. 

59E59 Theaters will launch the 2016 Brits Off Broadway festival with ECHOES, written by Henry Naylor, and directed by Mr. Naylor and Emma Buttler. Produced by Redbeard Theatre Ltd and Gilded Balloon Productions, ECHOES begins performances on Tuesday, April 19 for a limited engagement through Sunday, May 1.  Press opening is Sunday, April 24 at 3:15 PM.  The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:15 PM; Friday at 8:15 PM; Saturday at 2:15 PM & 8:15 PM; and Sunday at 3:15 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $25 ($17.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org. 

The 4A's (Alan Ayckbourn Aficionados of America) will present an April staged reading of ROUNDELAY, a new play by Alan Ayckbourn.

59E59 Theaters has announced the line-up for the this year's Brits Off Broadway festival, the critically acclaimed annual festival of New British Theater. Now in its 12th Season, the 2016 Brits Off Broadway festival kicks off on Tuesday, April 19 and runs through Sunday, July 3.  Single ticket prices range from $25 - $70 ($17.50 - $49 for 59E59 Members). Tickets to Brits Off Broadway go on sale to the general public on March 7, with an exclusive pre-sale for 59E59 Members beginning on March 1. Tickets are available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or online at www.59e59.org.

BOTALLACK O'CLOCK is a funny, moving and thought-provoking journey into the creative mind of Roger Hilton CBE, one of the most unique voices in post-war British art. Written by Eddie Elks, the play will run at the Old Red Lion Theatre (418 St John Street, London EC1V 4NJ) from Tuesday 12th January to Saturday 6th February 2016. 

Snapdragon Productions today announces the full cast for the UK tour of their acclaimed revival of Toast by Richard Bean.  Accompanying Matthew Kelly and Simon Greenall are Will Barton, Steve Nicolson, Matt Sutton and John Wark, all reprising their roles from the 2014 Park Theatre run. Kieran Knowles is the sole new cast member who joins the company in the role of Dezzie.

Jessica Brown Findlay (Sonya), Vanessa Kirby (Elena), Richard Lumsden (Telegin), Hilton McRae (Serebryakov), Tobias Menzies (Astrov) and Ann Queensberry (Nanny) join the previously announced Paul Rhys (Vanya) in Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, a new version created by and directed by Associate Director, Robert Icke, at the Almeida Theatre. Running from 5 February until 26 March 2016, with press night on 12 February, Uncle Vanya is Icke's next production following the critically acclaimed Oresteia, which ran at the Almeida Theatre, transferred to the West End, and recently won him the Evening Standard Award for Best Director.

Sheffield Theatres today announce that Daniel Evans will step down as Artistic Director. He leaves the company in June 2016, to take over as Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre.

59E59 Theaters  has announced the line-up of shows for Winter 2016.  All performances take place at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park & Madison Avenues). Ticket prices and performance schedules vary. For tickets, call Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org. 

BOTALLACK O'CLOCK is a funny, moving and thought-provoking journey into the creative mind of Roger Hilton CBE, one of the most unique voices in post-war British art. Written by Eddie Elks, the play will run at the Old Red Lion Theatre (418 St John Street, London EC1V 4NJ) from Tuesday 12th January to Saturday 6th February 2016. 

The Citizens Theatre embraces a pop-punk spirit for its wild and anarchic festive production, Rapunzel, with the casting of Cat Myers, drummer with Glasgow grunge duo Honeyblood. A fun and alternative festive treat for the whole family aged 6 and upwards, Rapunzel runs from Saturday 28 November 2015 to Sunday 3 January 2016.

Curve today announces casting for the theatre's productions of Roald Dahl's THE WITCHES and Lionel Bart's classic musical, OLIVER!